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Giants fan killed outside AT&T park
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/05/11/BAFK10KLHE.DTL
05-11) 16:21 PDT SAN FRANCISCO --
An 18-year-old man leaving Friday night's San Francisco Giants game at AT&T Park was killed after he was punched during an argument just outside the gates, fell over and struck his head on the ground, police said today.
The teenager who allegedly threw the punch was arrested and is in jail today on suspicion of murder.
The victim, Anthony Giraudo, was a longtime fan of the Giants who graduated last year from Woodside High School and attended Cañada College in Redwood City, where he pitched on the baseball team, said his grieving father, Robert Giraudo.
He and his wife, Sheri Giraudo, spent Mother's Day at San Francisco General Hospital, where their son's organs were donated.
"It's a parent's worst nightmare and you never think it's going to happen," Robert Giraudo said. "Nobody can quite figure out how this could happen. How can his life be over over something so trivial, something that didn't even matter?"
San Francisco police Sgt. Neville Gittens, a department spokesman, said Giraudo got into an argument at about 9:45 p.m. in Seals Plaza, which is just outside the ballpark beyond center field, near the ferry landing.
"It's unclear whether the suspect was part of the argument or whether he just punched the victim," Gittens said.
Anthony Giraudo fell and hit his head on concrete, Gittens said.
Robert Giraudo said he had been told that his son was punched from behind after objecting to something that had been said to a female friend. Giraudo was in a group of five friends who were leaving the game, the father said.
Gittens identified the suspect as Taylor Buckley, 18, of San Carlos. He was arrested for aggravated assault at the ballpark, then made bail and was released.
When Giraudo was pronounced dead at noon Saturday, homicide inspectors obtained a $1 million arrest warrant alleging murder; Buckley turned himself in at the San Francisco Hall of Justice at 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Gittens said.
The Giants hosted the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday night in a game that started at 7:15 p.m.
On Sept. 17, 2004, another Redwood City resident, 21-year-old Timothy Griffith, was fatally stabbed just outside the ballpark after he witnessed Barry Bonds' 700th career home run. A 26-year-old man who claims he acted in self-defense during a fight is now on trial for murder.
Staci Slaughter, a spokeswoman for the Giants, called the death a "horrible tragedy."
"Our hearts and prayers are with the family of the young man," Slaughter said. "Fan safety is always our No. 1 priority. We've been fortunate to have very few incidents here over the years, but one tragedy is too many and we'll redouble our efforts to work with Chief (Heather) Fong and the San Francisco Police Department to ensure this never happens again."
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/05/11/BAFK10KLHE.DTL
05-11) 16:21 PDT SAN FRANCISCO --
An 18-year-old man leaving Friday night's San Francisco Giants game at AT&T Park was killed after he was punched during an argument just outside the gates, fell over and struck his head on the ground, police said today.
The teenager who allegedly threw the punch was arrested and is in jail today on suspicion of murder.
The victim, Anthony Giraudo, was a longtime fan of the Giants who graduated last year from Woodside High School and attended Cañada College in Redwood City, where he pitched on the baseball team, said his grieving father, Robert Giraudo.
He and his wife, Sheri Giraudo, spent Mother's Day at San Francisco General Hospital, where their son's organs were donated.
"It's a parent's worst nightmare and you never think it's going to happen," Robert Giraudo said. "Nobody can quite figure out how this could happen. How can his life be over over something so trivial, something that didn't even matter?"
San Francisco police Sgt. Neville Gittens, a department spokesman, said Giraudo got into an argument at about 9:45 p.m. in Seals Plaza, which is just outside the ballpark beyond center field, near the ferry landing.
"It's unclear whether the suspect was part of the argument or whether he just punched the victim," Gittens said.
Anthony Giraudo fell and hit his head on concrete, Gittens said.
Robert Giraudo said he had been told that his son was punched from behind after objecting to something that had been said to a female friend. Giraudo was in a group of five friends who were leaving the game, the father said.
Gittens identified the suspect as Taylor Buckley, 18, of San Carlos. He was arrested for aggravated assault at the ballpark, then made bail and was released.
When Giraudo was pronounced dead at noon Saturday, homicide inspectors obtained a $1 million arrest warrant alleging murder; Buckley turned himself in at the San Francisco Hall of Justice at 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Gittens said.
The Giants hosted the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday night in a game that started at 7:15 p.m.
On Sept. 17, 2004, another Redwood City resident, 21-year-old Timothy Griffith, was fatally stabbed just outside the ballpark after he witnessed Barry Bonds' 700th career home run. A 26-year-old man who claims he acted in self-defense during a fight is now on trial for murder.
Staci Slaughter, a spokeswoman for the Giants, called the death a "horrible tragedy."
"Our hearts and prayers are with the family of the young man," Slaughter said. "Fan safety is always our No. 1 priority. We've been fortunate to have very few incidents here over the years, but one tragedy is too many and we'll redouble our efforts to work with Chief (Heather) Fong and the San Francisco Police Department to ensure this never happens again."
